An Argentine court on Tuesday commenced the trial of seven healthcare professionals accused of negligence in the death of football legend Diego Maradona at the age of 60.
Maradona suffered a cardiac arrest on November 25, 2020, while under their care at a house near Buenos Aires.
A panel of three judges will determine whether the defendants—including a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, and several other medical staff—are guilty of manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
Prosecutors argue that the accused failed to provide proper medical treatment. Patricio Ferrari, leading the prosecution, claims that between November 11 and 25, 2020, Maradona was placed in home care in a private neighborhood in Tigre, Buenos Aires, without full mental capacity to consent. Ferrari described the hospitalization as reckless and lacking proper oversight.
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“They condemned him to isolation in that house... then deliberately and cruelly let him die,” Ferrari stated. He presented an image of Maradona lying in bed with a visibly swollen abdomen at the time of his death.
Maradona’s family, including his eldest daughters Dalma and Giannina, his former partner Verónica Ojeda, and another daughter, Jana, attended the trial. Before proceedings began, Ojeda shared a video of their son Diego Fernando wearing a T-shirt featuring Maradona’s image and the word “justice.”
The trial, expected to last up to four months, will have three hearings per week.
Neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, Maradona’s personal doctor for four years, is a key defendant. He had operated on Maradona to remove a blood clot from his brain just weeks before his passing.
Also on trial are psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, who prescribed Maradona’s medication; psychologist Carlos Díaz; Nancy Forlini, a coordinator from the medical company overseeing his care; Mariano Perroni, a representative of the nursing service provider; Dr. Pedro Di Spagna, who monitored his treatment; and nurse Ricardo Almirón.
Another nurse, Gisela Madrid, who was also indicted, will face trial separately later this year.